The Magnificent Eight

Just before Juneteenth, the Young Eight, an ensemble of young African-American classical musicians who have made Austin a regular stop on their increasingly busy national touring schedule, returns to town as part of the St. Cecilia Music Series of First Presbyterian Church. Violinists Mariana Green-Hill, Kenneth Jarvis, John H. Littlejohn, and Quinton I. Morris; violists Christopher Jenkins and Dawn Michelle Smith; and cellists Ryan Murphy and Tahirah Whittington joined forces at the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2002, and in the short time since their octet has become a recognized force for classical music education and advocate for classical compositions by African-American composers. After their St. Cecilia concert, which will feature octets by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich, and Niels W. Gade, the Young Eight is off to Seattle for a week of concerts and seminars, but the group will return June 28 to lead a weeklong string seminar for 16 specially selected students at Huston-Tillotson University, a school where they have an ongoing residency.